Island County, Washington
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 53029 · population 86,855 · 208 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 171 records for Island County, Washington from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 159 days; the most frequent are high wind and dust records (130 records). 165 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the December 25, 2011 high wind, filed for the forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area, which covers the county: 1 death and 1 injury. FEMA has issued 22 declarations naming the county since 1980, 20 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides” on April 7, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 171on 159 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 21 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $32Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 22latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Island County most?
The most frequent records are high wind and dust records: 130 since 1996. The rank column places the county among Washington's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | 130 | 123 | 1996-2025 | 2 | 1 | $24M | 2 of 39 |
| Winter storms | 26 | 24 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $5.9M | 11 of 39 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 4 | 4 | 2011-2014 | 0 | 0 | $641K | 3 of 39 |
| Floods | 3 | 3 | 2006-2012 | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | 11 of 39 |
| Drought | 2 | 2 | 2001-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 of 39 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2001-2007 | 0 | 0 | $28K | 8 of 39 |
| Extreme cold | 1 | 1 | 1996-1996 | 0 | 0 | – | 11 of 39 |
| Heat | 1 | 1 | 2023-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 of 39 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2012-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 of 39 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 1 | 1986-1986 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 of 39 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
When was the last damaging storm in Island County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 30, 2020 strong wind ($5.7 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
Fort Ebey State Park was forced to close for a period of time on December 30 due to numerous downed trees, per WA State Parks. The ferry service from 8am-1030am from Port Townsend and Coupeville were cancelled due to high wind and rough seas.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 934887)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-02-25 | High WindIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-25 | High WindIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-12-30 | Strong WindIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5.7M |
| 2017-11-13 | High WindIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $602K |
| 2017-10-18 | High WindIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2015-08-29 | High WindIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $311K |
| 2014-12-28 | Debris FlowClinton, Island County | 0 | 0 | $312K | |
| 2013-01-31 | Debris FlowClinton, Island County | 0 | 0 | $317K | |
| 2012-12-17 | Coastal FloodIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area | 0 | 0 | $321K | |
| 2011-12-25 | High WindIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area | 43 kt wind | 1 | 1 | – |
| 2008-12-31 | High WindIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area | 37 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $480K |
| 2007-11-12 | High WindIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $569K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-12-25 | High WindIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area An automated system in Freeland on Whidbey Island reported about 2.5 hours of high wind, both sustained and gust. A 9 year old girl was killed, and her father injured, when the top part of a tree broke and fell on their SUV. | 43 kt wind | 1 | 1 | – |
| 2003-10-28 | High WindIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area High winds knocked out power to nearly 100,000 people. Ferry service was halted for several hours. Off Foulweather Bluff, in Kitsap county, a boat capsized, and a boat house sank in Clallam county. A shoreline restaurant in Mukilteo sustained damage from the high winds and wind driven waves that crashed through ... | 52 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $3.2M |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-11-26 | Heavy SnowIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area | 0 | 0 | $5.9M | |
| 2020-12-30 | Strong WindIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5.7M |
| 2006-11-15 | High WindIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4.4M |
| 2000-12-14 | High WindIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area | 77 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3.6M |
| 2003-10-28 | High WindIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area | 52 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $3.2M |
| 2017-10-18 | High WindIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2006-02-04 | Coastal FloodIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area | 0 | 0 | $732K | |
| 2017-11-13 | High WindIsland County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Admiralty Inlet Area | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $602K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Island County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 13 | 47 | 52 | 18 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Island County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 39 · Feb 24 · Mar 19 · Apr 7 · May 4 · Jun 1 · Jul 0 · Aug 2 · Sep 2 · Oct 10 · Nov 34 · Dec 29 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Island County
FEMA's register lists 22 declarations that include Island County: 20 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (12) and flood (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-07 | DR-4906 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2024-04-28 | DR-4775 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2023-01-12 | DR-4682 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2022-01-05 | DR-4635 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2021-04-08 | DR-4593 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-04-23 | DR-4539 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-03-22 | DR-4481 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3427 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-03-04 | DR-4418 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, Tornado |
| 2016-01-15 | DR-4249 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-10-15 | DR-4242 | Severe Storm | Severe Windstorm |
| 2009-03-02 | DR-1825 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow |
| 2007-02-14 | DR-1682 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2006-05-17 | DR-1641 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tidal Surge, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3227 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-11-07 | DR-1499 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2001-03-01 | DR-1361 | Earthquake | Earthquake |
| 1997-01-17 | DR-1159 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,Flooding |
| 1996-01-03 | DR-1079 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, High Wind, and Flooding |
| 1991-03-08 | DR-896 | Flood | Severe Storms & High Tides |
| 1990-11-26 | DR-883 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1980-05-21 | DR-623 | Volcanic Eruption | Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. Helens |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Island County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 3 flood or flash flood records for Island County from 2006 to 2012, on 3 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Island County ranks 788th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $4.1 million on 279 claims filed in Island County; the most in one year was 46 in 2006. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 5 · 1980: 1 · 1981: 2 · 1982: 5 · 1983: 4 · 1984: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1990: 5 · 1991: 1 · 1992: 2 · 1994: 1 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 14 · 1997: 12 · 1998: 3 · 1999: 12 · 2000: 2 · 2001: 4 · 2003: 2 · 2004: 1 · 2005: 2 · 2006: 46 · 2007: 2 · 2009: 4 · 2010: 4 · 2011: 4 · 2012: 19 · 2013: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2016: 35 · 2018: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2021: 21 · 2022: 38 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 2; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Island County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Island County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $39.3 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively High | $5.7M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | $22M | once in about 39 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $314K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $1.4M | 3.2 a year (modeled) |
| Volcanic Activity | Relatively Low | $3K | once in about 909 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $7.9M | once in about 28 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $889K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $56K | 5.7 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Island County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- High wind and dust storms in WashingtonThe state's high wind and dust records, by county, year and month
- The Washington recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Island CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Island County's FEMA declarations (CSV)22 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis